Mine-elevator cage.



0. 6. LEE & F. M. OSBORNE.

MINE ELEVATOR CAGE.

APPLICATION F ILED OCT- 16. 1 916.

Patented Apr. 3,1917.

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MINE ELEVATOR CAGE.

APPLICATION man OCT- 16. m6.

Patented Apr.

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OSCAR GILBERT LEE AND FRANCIS MARION OSBORNE, OF WASHINGTON, PENNSYL VANIA.

MIN Iii-ELEVATOR CAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 16, 1916. Serial No. 125,921.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known thatwe, OSCAR GILBERT LEE and Rumors MARION OSBORNE, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the county of Washington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Mine-Elevator Cages; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices for mine elevator cages and the primary object of the invention is to provide effective means normally held out of operation when the hoisting mechanism of the elevator is Working, but automatically thrown into action when the hoisting rope or any of its supports break, or the elevator reaches the bottom of the shaft, to lock the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is easily and simply constructed, inexpensive to manufacture, and one which will be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerousother objects in view, our invention consists of the novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts which will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification. and claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an elevator cage provided with the improved safety device, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on an en larged scale, taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse section, with the parts in the position they assume when the cage supporting cable is broken.

Fig. dis a detail horizontal section on line 55 of Fig. 1.

In describing our invention, we shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which in Fig. 1, we have shown the safety device in inoperative position, applied to the head beam of a conventional type of elevator cage ordinarily used in mines. The elevator cage which is designated by the numeral 1 is slidable vertically on guide rails 2 on opposite sides of the same, and the said cage is 0perated by a single hoisting cable 3.

Secured to the head beam of the elevator cage which is designated by the numeral 4 is the preferred type of safety catch, although if desired, any safety arrangement embodying the general principles herein set forth may be used with this invention. The

safety catch shown in the accompanyingv drawings comprises a pair of rock shafts 5 positioned on opposite sides of the head beam, and which project therefrom having locking pawls (3 on their opposite ends that are adapted for engagement with the sides of the rails 2 on which the cage slides. These shafts 5 are connected intermediate their ends with a leaf spring 7 positioned beneath the head beam 4., and normally tending to hold the locking pawls into engagement with the rails. The connection between the-rock shafts and the leaf spring is of any desired type, that is sufficient to rock the shafts when the spring moves, to lock the device.

The elevator cage is supported in the shaft by means of a pair of chains 8 which have their lower ends connected to the head beam, and are connected at their upper ends by a U-shaped ,member 9. Projecting downwardly through the Ushaped member 9 is a top bolt 10 which has its upper end connectedto the hoisting cable 3, and has on its lower portion that projects through the U-shaped member a coil spring 11.

Disposed in vertical alinement with the top bolt 10 and projecting upwardly through the head beam a of the elevator cage is a vertically disposed rod 12, which has its lower end secured to the leaf spring 7 and which is slidably mounted through said beam. On the upper end of the rod 12 is formed an eye 13 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. This eye 13 extends a short distance above the head beam 4 and is dis posed in vertical alinement with the bottom .of the top bolt 10 that is secured to the hoisting cable.

Our present type of safety device embodies a new and novel type of connection between the vertical rod 12 and the top bolt 10, as will be hereinafter fully described. This connection comprises a chain 1a which is normally positioned vertically between thesetwo parts and extends approximately the entire distance between thesame. Secured tofthe lower end of the chain 11 is a clevis 15 which has its lower end connected by means of a horizontally extending bolt 16 in the eye 18 at the top of the rod 12. Mounted on the lower end of the top bolt 10 is an additional clevis 17wvhich when in rate link 20 that has an enlarged upper portion. surrounding the bolt, and extending between the arms of the clevis. The lower end of this link is connected with the upper link of the chain 14 and forms a secure connection between the parts.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the safety device used on this type of elevator is connected with the hoisting 'cableby a single chain. The operation ofthe safety device is essentially such as is ordinarily used in devices of this character. During the operation of the elevator cage when thefhoisting cable is taut, the spring 7 is compressed owing to the fact that the cable is connected through the top bolt 10, chain 141 and'cle'vis'es with the vertical rod 12 that has its lower end secured to said spring. When in this'position, the safety lockingp'awls 6 will be held in inoperative position, that is, away from the rails 2, but upon breakage 'of the cable, or when the ele- 4 vator cage reaches the bottom of the shaft,

this cable will be released, and the spring will resume its normal position thereby driving the pawlsinto, engagement with the guide rails and locking the elevator.

r In other devices of this character, a cumbersome structure hasbeen ordinarily used to connect the top bolt with the safety device,

but the construction employed by us, owing to 7 its extreme simplicity, makes a very eflicient connection of this character. The clevises at either end of the connecting chain 14; allow the chain to drop upon the top beam of the elevator cage without placing any undue pressure upon the upper portion of the vertical rod 12. The clevis 17 that is secured to the lower portion of the top bolt 10 locks the nut on the lower end of said bolt in position, and prevents the same from working therefrom.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of our improved safety device for mine elevator cages, the manner of applying the same to use and the operation thereof will be readily understood and it will be seen that we have provided a simple and efiicient means for carrying out the objects of the invention.

e claim as our invention The combination with an elevator cage having a single hoisting cable, chains secured to the head beam of said cage, a top bolt connecting the chains and cable, a safety catch for said cage, a spring to operate the same, a vertical rod extending upwardly from the head beam of cage and having its lower end connected with the spring, of a chain vertically disposed when the cage is in operation and extending between the vertical rod and top bolt, a clevis connecting the lower end of said chain with the upper end of the vertical rod, a nut on the lower end of the top bolt, and an additional clevis adjacent the lower end of the top bolt adapted to lock the nut thereon in position and connecting said bolt with the upper end of the chain.

In testimony whereof .we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR GILBERT LEE. 7 FRANCIS MARION OSBORNE. Witnesses:

BARBARA DONNER,

Gno. R. MOSLEY.

i Copies-of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. G. 

